How to Grow Ginseng (Panax Ginseng and Panax quinquefolius)

By Matt Gibson

The use of nin-sin root dates back to ancient China and spans thousands of days . In Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM ) , ginseng is primarily used to furnish energy and mental focal point , to increase intimate drive and execution , and to treat anxiousness by lower stress . by from these benefit , Ginseng is also used in TCM to avail lengthen lifespan , increase life force , shape body systems , Improve cognitive office , restore qi ( vital energy ) , keep disease , and slow the effects of ripening .

Ginseng plants are a challenge to grow , peculiarly for beginning nurseryman . They require raft of subtlety to thrive , and consistently dampish grunge . More sun exposure will make the flora postulate more water supply . It can take up to five to ten years for ginseng plant to turn to full matureness and become quick for harvest . Ginseng will ache anytime it is pull to compete with other plants for water and nutrients . Keep an eye out for weeds sprouting up in your bed and container and pull up up any that seem . Lay out a two - inchlayer of mulchto deter weeds and pests , and to improve air circulation .

ginseng plant growing

Though there is some skepticism in the westerly domain about the effectiveness of herbal remedies like ginseng , the popularity of nin-sin in America still facilitate to force back the somewhat market toll of the root . Cultivating Panax ginseng in large amount can really be quite profitable , if you have money to endow in large scale planting and distribution .

Varieties of Ginseng

There are two main type of ginseng that are true ginseng cultivar , which areOriental ginseng(Panax Ginseng ) andAmerican Ginseng(Panax quinquefolius ) . Oriental ginseng has long been revered in traditional Chinese medicament for its medicinal value . Also shout out red ginseng , Asiatic ginseng . The Oriental ginseng plant come from Korea , China , and Siberia , though it is almost out as a wild species . The plant is cultivated commercially and has become very expensive due to its modified availability and increase demand .

American Panax ginseng , which is aboriginal to North America , is a cousin to the Oriental cultivar that acquire in the Appalachian peck . Cultivated primarily in the U.S. and Canada , American ginseng is considered balmy , or cool by traditional Chinese medicine and used in the main for its calm belongings and emphasis relieving mogul , compared its oriental cousin , which is consider red-hot .

There are a few other plants that can imitate Panax ginseng but are not really Panax ginseng plants themselves . Amerind ginseng , Brazilian nin-sin , and Siberian ginseng are all marketed as ginseng plants , but none are from the Panax kinsperson , and none are actual ginseng relatives .

ginseng root and ginseng plant with text overlay how to grow ginseng

Growing Conditions for Ginseng

Whether you are starting your Panax pseudoginseng craw byplanting stratified ejaculate , or transfer modest plant , full soil drain and a well - shaded touch are the top requirements when pick out a location for ginseng . Choose a squish bed with 75 to 80 per centum nuance coverage . Ideally , put your ginseng in a spot with fiddling to no weeds and zero foot traffic . works in a raised bed line with netting to feign an ideal get environment .

Alternatively , ginseng can be cultivated indoors in planter with drain chambers , as long as they are direct in a location out of lineal sunlight . Sow seed in the fall about one and a half inches recondite . works roots three inches deep , sooner too soon in the spring .

Ginseng is picky about its grease . try your soil is the best way to find out how to best spay it for growing Panax schinseng . The plant life will not turn well in acidulous soils , and prefers a neutral compass to alkaline soil weather . The idealistic soil pH is between 5.6 and six . rectify with lime to bring acidic dirt into the achromatic range . ( Not certain where the pH level of your soil lies on the spectrum ? Learn how you’re able to find out in our articleHow to Test pH in Your Soil .

destiny of shade is essential to ginseng wellness , as these plants but wo n’t tolerate much high temperature . If you go in the southerly United States , develop ginseng indoors is your only authentic choice , as the live conditions is not an option for ginseng harvest . Other than temperate atmospheric condition , and improve your soil pH , you will necessitate plenty of patience to grow ginseng to maturity . Ginseng can take anywhere between five to ten years to develop roots large enough for harvesting .

How to Plant Ginseng

The main requirement for raise nin-sin at home plate is patience . Seeds can take up to 18 months just to shoot and seeds must be stratify first as well . So unless you situate come that have been stratified already , which is a task in and of itself , you will involve to store your seeds in George Sand or peat in a refrigerator for six month before you could begin germination .

Once you have an actual plant in the ground , it ’s another five to ten year wait before you will be capable to harvest your first ginseng antecedent . Purchasing seedlings reduce out a mass of the preparatory meter , but it will cost supererogatory money as well .

Plant ginseng seeds in the fall or other wintertime when the undercoat is slenderly moist , rather just after a light rainwater or snow . infinite seeds 14 to 18 inches asunder . Sow seed a quarter inch deep , and cover by pressing down on the soil . Then , cover the planting area with a three in stratum of foliage rubble mulch .

The process of imbed Panax pseudoginseng seeds can actually be rather complicated as well . Some suggest establish ginseng by scattering seed , some by scattering seed severally . Some experts postulate that because Panax ginseng farm gayly in the wild , it ’s best to mimic its aboriginal habitat to grow it in good order . oecumenical planting suggestions let in space come three inches aside and covering loosely with just three fourths of an inch of grunge medium .

Care for Ginseng

Ginsing prefers a consistently moist grime and postulate a lot of shade . It is important when picking a location , to choose an area that mimics the plant ’s native home ground . Amending your dirt cornerstone with some peat moss and mulching with leaf litter will help to ameliorate drain and boost wet retentiveness . supererogatory lachrymation is only necessary in drought conditions .

If you meliorate your soil well , no fertilization is necessary for Panax ginseng , and additional food may in reality negatively affect your industrial plant development . Amend with lots oforganic compost .

How to Propagate Ginseng

Ginseng can only be propagated by seed . You ca n’t create a unexampled industrial plant from press cutting or root division . Propagating from seed can be difficult and seeds should be stratify before sow in . The easiest way to summate ginseng plants is to purchase established plant . The old age of the plant you buy will determine how long you may have to look for the works to mature and evolve roots turgid enough to harvest . The older and more constituted ginseng plant that you purchase , the nearer it will be to maturity and the little the amount of time you will have to wait to harvest it .

Garden Pests and Diseases of Ginseng

Ginseng plants are known to have problem with a few fungal diseases , specially when exposed to poor soil , and overcrowded growing term with inadequate air circulation . The unwashed garden diseases known to trouble ginseng harvest areleaf blight , damp - off , and antecedent rot .

Prevent disease development by render your plants the best care and providing ginseng ’s pet growing conditions . allow each of your ginseng plant with flock of space and ample air circulation , as well as conditions similar to the works ’s natural grow environment , will avail come down the prospect of disease . Most of the disease that attack Panax pseudoginseng are fungal , so you may need to keep some fungicide on hired hand to spray your plant with at the first sign of transmission .

Two garden pests known to attack ginseng areslugsand cutworm . lie out beer taunt to drown slugs . Just a small amount of beer pour into a shallow dish will unhinge the unworthy , foliage - eating ne’er - do - well . Other organic ascendency methods for slugs include pick them off by manus and drying them out by mulching with sawdust .

Cutworms can destruct foliage tissue paper and leave unsightly messes in your garden beds . Manage cutworms with pesticide . Other insects might lash out the ginseng plant , but none cause significant damage . Larger pests , such as mice , have been know to beat you to harvest , eating the etymon of ginseng flora before they can grow . Deer have been cognise to annihilate entire Panax pseudoginseng craw .

Harvesting Laws for Ginseng in the USA

Because of popular demand and limited supplying , state and Union laws involving Panax ginseng production and harvest are always shifting to highlight growing style and to forbid over - harvest home . You do n’t have to occupy about harvest law when it add up to draw crop that you grow in your own garden , however , it is always honest to bang the rules and limitations involving harvesting Panax schinseng that is grow in the wild , in case you chance upon some and are considering total the wild ascendent to your cupboard stock certificate .

How to Harvest Ginseng

When ginseng finally hit due date , the base can be harvested during autumn . To harvest , mildly dig around the industrial plant until the root is exposed . cautiously work the root out of the soil , using your hands to prod around the root to free it from the soil without damaging its delicate stolon . To conserve the root for extended period , it can be dry and either sliced or grated .

How to Dry and Store Ginseng Root

There are several shipway to dry out ginseng root for storage . unlike methods take various drying method acting using fans , kitchen stove , heaters , and dehumidifiers . For small harvests , commercial-grade herbaceous plant drying system are available , but they will not work for large root harvest . Large dry out systems are available on the market , but price are unconscionable .

Whichever drying method you decide on , the most important chemical element to right ginseng drying is clock . Rushing the drying process will result in inferior nin-sin . Allowing ginseng too much dry out clip will lead in clay sculpture take .

There are two element that need to be perfect to dry out Panax schinseng roots decently . Those component are temperature and ventilation ( or air circulation ) . Before dry , wash off your freshly harvested ginseng root using a crushed pressure water stream . Never use water pressure or scrubbing to clean the root , as bursts of substantial piss pressure and handwriting - scrubbing can easy spite or damage the roots . Typically , ginseng ascendent are site on drying rack or screens which leave full airflow .

disperse the roots out so that they do not touch each other . once in a while rotate the ancestor to see that they are drying as on all surfaces . Keep temperatures between 70 and 100 degree . Temperature , humidity , weather , and dry out method all play a part in the clip ask to dry out Panax ginseng roots .

With drying temperatures set at room temperature , or 70 degree F , it should take around one to two weeks for the roots to dry out completely . plain smaller roots dry out out more speedily than large I , which can take as much as six workweek to full dry . Keep a close centre on the ascendant as they are dry out to ensure that they are drying every bit on each side . root that were dry correctly snap in two with informality and should be all - white inside , with no visible mold balance .

Once Panax ginseng roots are completely dry and ready for storage , place them into paper bags or box . Never salt away base in plastic suitcase or containers because credit card is known to rear humidity levels and can do root in storage to build up clay sculpture .

Ginseng root can be used to provide an all - natural muscularity boost , better cognitive function , slow the affects of aging , increase intimate performance , reduce focus , and more . Growing the root in your garden can be very rewarding and even profitable , as long as you have stack of patience and a good growing environment . Growing ginseng is a challenge , but one that any nurseryman can enjoy .